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On May 15, 2006, the PCT and
long-distance hiking community lost one of its own. Wendell
Ray Echols (“No Way Ray”) of Mariposa, California, was
approximately 300 miles into a northbound PCT thru-hike with
his wife Alice Tulloch when he apparently lost his footing and
fell about 200 feet to his death. Alice was hiking about 20
yards behind him when he went around a corner and disappeared.
The accident occurred in a remote part of the San Bernardino
National Forest near Deep Creek. Another group of hikers heard
Alice’s pleas for help and were able to use a satellite
phone to call for assistance. Ray was pronounced dead at the
scene.
Before his retirement, Ray worked as junior high school teacher
in a four-room, nine-grade country school in the Mariposa County Unified School District. He is best
known in the hiking community, however, for his frequent posts
to the PCT-L, his service on the American Long Distance Hiking
Association-West’s Board of Directors, his participation in
events such as Trail Fest and the Annual Day Zero Kick Off
Party, and his inspired writing. Ray began a thru-hike of the
PCT in 2001. This trek metamorphosed into a 3,500-mile,
three-section hike which he finished in 2005, going from
Ashland to Manning Park. Ray and his zest for life will be
missed by all who knew him. Numerous donations have been made
to the PCTA in Ray’s honor.
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